It Was Diana's Day Off,

so we started with a egg sandwich and a mug of tea,

'Cheers!',

one more with the flowers,

we had decided on a walk in a park we had not been to before, it was a tad cloudy so wet gear on for Diana,

for myself I took an umbrella,

as we came to the entrance to the road into the park, it had been cordoned off, tonight it is the Naked City Festival in the park,

so only residents traffic is allowed into the park, great that we do not have cars blocking the entrance to the house, I just wish when it starts they could turn the noise down!

we caught a 354 bus to the cemetery, crossing the road,

we found the entrance to the South Norwood Country Park,

we decided to follow the main pathway around the park,

a very artistic sign post,

we followed a small stream,

time for a pose,

the area of the park is 125 acres, or 50.59 hectares if you prefer,

and consist mainly of wild flower meadows, wetlands, a lake, and a children's playground, there are a few other features in the park, a pitch and putt (out of operation indefinitely whilst provision of the facility is under review), a visitors centre (currently closed for refurbishment), the toilets including facilities for radar keyholders are available, (currently closed as part of refurbishment works),

we soon found ourselves in one of the huge open areas, 

considering how nice the main pathway was we were both surprised how few people were jogging or cycling here,

in the distance,

a map,

a quick look to see where we were going,

we continued along the pathway,

and entered a wooded area,

this tree loaded down with berries,

it was a hawthorn, (Crataegus), it certainly is a bumper year for the berries this year,

it started out as a grey day,

but now we had blue skies, 

another tree looks like it is going to have a bumper crop,

this one a elderberry tree, (Sambucus nigra), many years ago in our teens Peter from Scotland and myself made some wine using elderberries and sultanas, it was quite good as I seem to remember, 

another hawthorn tree,

again loaded down with berries,

the pathway opened up again into a meadow,

a quick panorama,

looking back towards Crystal Palace, the aerial in the distance on the left,

a bridge over the stream,

some of the trees here are of an age, 

like this one,

we followed the stream,

and found another map,

we were near the lake, the groundsmen here making the willows along the side of the pond into a barrier,

there are 4 viewing platforms giving views of the pond,

the pond from this one,

looking to the left, in the distance,

the second of the four platforms, we continued our walk towards Elmers End,

to the train and bus station,

over the road bridge,

to the end of the 54 bus route, it is here that drivers have a break before returning on their route back to Woolwich,

we did not have to wait long,

I tried to take a photograph of the flowers outside of the Elm Tree, but pressed the shutter button just as we passed a lamppost!

back into the park,

the sky looking nice in the evening,

time for a read and a sherry,

for our starter mussels in a white wine sauce, 'Cheers!',

Diana had made herself a fish dish with rice,

 and for myself roast duck with vegetables,

eyes down and tuck in,

before dessert a fortune cookie,

and here were ours,

Diana noticed over my shoulder that although it was not raining, in the distance,

we could just make out,

the end of a rainbow,

then a real treat for dessert, a home made bread and butter pudding,

which was delicious, we listened to some music then feet up for a couple of films,

the first a bit dated but still enjoyable Escape from Alcatraz, 

which we followed with The Huntsman: Winter's War, great special effects in this evil verses good fantasy film, after which we were off to bed.